Joe Root completed his 18th Test and the first in more than a year with a 163-ball in the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
The England captain has reached the first stage since November 2019 - playing against New Zealand in Hamilton - when he paddled Dilruwan Perera for a while after lunch.
Root’s tone came from 163 balls during the century with Dan Lawrence who started it, with a 50-thing relationship locked in a morning session where Lawrence introduced six over the leg and held the post.
Joe Root's 18th century Test and is the second time in his career in Sri Lanka. The Yorkshire-based striker previously scored 124 winning matches in Kandy in November 2018. With his latest effort, Root became the only English cricketer to ever score more than a hundred Tests on Sri Lankan soil. Others who have done so in the past are Alastair Cook (113 in Galle in early 2007), Graham Thorpe (113 in Colombo in 2001), Kevin Pietersen (151 in Colombo in 2012) and Michael Vaughan (105 in Kandy in 2013).
Jonny Bairstow (47) was the only one injured this morning in the rain, failing to add to his points all night as he sharpened the ball that turned sharply from Lasith Embuldeniya to Kusal Mendis where the match resumed for about an hour.
Root and Lawrence took England - who started again at 127-2 - surpassing 135 Sri Lankan winners on the first day, with off-spinner Don Bess holding 5-30 and tailor Stuart Broad 3-20.
Mzu rallied three runs in the final game before lunch to advance to the 99th but could not return to strike and had to have lunch before crucifying his third Test with Sri Lanka.
The 30-year-old made 200 undefeated and similar opposition in Lord in 2014 and then 124 against them in Kandy in late 2018 when England lost 3-0 on the island.
Looking at Joe Root's centuries and general career statistics
Joe Root's work statistics contain some amazing numbers. In 97 tests, before the ongoing game, the prime batsman scored 7,823 runs with an average of 47.99. Currently, the renewed century of Joe Root's century in Test cricket is made up of 18 and 49-century tons.
Sri Lanka vs England live streaming details and updates
At the time of publication, England reached 320-4 in 94 overs and 185 runs from Sri Lanka's first 135 innings. Joe Root strikes 168 * and is joined by Jos Buttler.
The live broadcast of Sri Lanka vs England is available on Sony Sports 2 and Sony Sports 2 HD in India. Fans who wish to watch the game online can do so on the SonyLIV app and on the website. Alternatively, you can check out SL vs ENG live scores and updates on websites and social media channels for English and Sri Lankan cricket boards.
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